Setting – Nehemiah gets bad news about the state of Jerusalem
Content – Nehemiah’s brother, Hanni and other men stated (v. 3 NLT) “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been burned.” Nehemiah’s response, (v. 4 NLT) “When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven” Nehemiah prayed to God (v. 6a NLT) “listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel.” It is a repentant prayer (v. 6b-7 NLT), “I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, laws, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.” Nehemiah remembers what God spoke through Moses about sin (v. 8-9 NLT) “you told your servant Moses: `If you sin, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands, even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.'”
Nehemiah remembers the Jews position before their God (v. 10 NLT) “We are your servants, the people you rescued by your great power and might.”
Nehemiah’s first repented and then petitioned God, the he makes a request (v. 11 NLT) “Please grant me success now as I go to ask the king for a great favor. Put it into his heart to be kind to me." In those days I was the king's cup-bearer.”
Application – Nehemiah is a great example of what to do when faced with troubling news or circumstances, which is prayer before God, “for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven”. In addition, understanding our position before God, this is generally a sinful state, “I confess that we have sinned against you”. Then Nehemiah remembers God’s promises, “if you return to me and obey my commands… I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored”. Lastly, Nehemiah makes his request before God, “Please grant me success now as I go to ask the king for a great favor. Put it into his heart to be kind to me”
Nehemiah’s steps:
- Prayer and fasting
- Confession
- Recalling God’s promises
- Petitioning God’s favor
Content – Nehemiah’s brother, Hanni and other men stated (v. 3 NLT) “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been burned.” Nehemiah’s response, (v. 4 NLT) “When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven” Nehemiah prayed to God (v. 6a NLT) “listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel.” It is a repentant prayer (v. 6b-7 NLT), “I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, laws, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.” Nehemiah remembers what God spoke through Moses about sin (v. 8-9 NLT) “you told your servant Moses: `If you sin, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands, even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.'”
Nehemiah remembers the Jews position before their God (v. 10 NLT) “We are your servants, the people you rescued by your great power and might.”
Nehemiah’s first repented and then petitioned God, the he makes a request (v. 11 NLT) “Please grant me success now as I go to ask the king for a great favor. Put it into his heart to be kind to me." In those days I was the king's cup-bearer.”
Application – Nehemiah is a great example of what to do when faced with troubling news or circumstances, which is prayer before God, “for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven”. In addition, understanding our position before God, this is generally a sinful state, “I confess that we have sinned against you”. Then Nehemiah remembers God’s promises, “if you return to me and obey my commands… I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored”. Lastly, Nehemiah makes his request before God, “Please grant me success now as I go to ask the king for a great favor. Put it into his heart to be kind to me”
Nehemiah’s steps:
- Prayer and fasting
- Confession
- Recalling God’s promises
- Petitioning God’s favor
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